Fastelavn is the Danish holiday that occurs before Lent…basically Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday to the US citizens out there. It occurs on a Sunday, but is celebrated by children at school the Friday before.

Originally, Fastelavn was a holy day which was celebrated, among other things, by Danes putting a poor sweet lil’ cat (usually black) in a barrel, and then beating that barrel until the cat either died, or the barrel broke and the cat ran away. This was seen as ridding the town of evil spirits. I have no words. Instead I sit with my mouth agape in a silent scream of horror.

Today, Fastelavn is celebrated by kids wearing costumes and beating a barrel with a stick. Only today, (thankfully), the barrels contain candy, and animal abuse is no longer condoned. However, in a perverse nod to the past, many barrels are decorated with a picture of a black cat.

Fastelavn is also celebrated with a special kind of boller (or bun). These deep fried buns are piped with custard and graced with an icing on the top…I am partial to chocolate.

Ian and I were reading about the best places to find Fastelavn Boller in Aalborg. We were in a fit of giggles over the Google translation of the article. Deep questions were asked such as, “are you a cream pig?”, “do you dream of weiner dough”, and the oft-pondered “does size matter?”. Oh dear, just writing that I am once again dissolving into unattractive snorts of hysteria. I fear my husband and I are hopelessly immature.

Anyhow, if you and yours celebrate Fastelavn, I hope it was joyous, and creamy, and devoid of animal abuse. Skol!